Here There Be Monsters That Which Is Unseen, a pandora hearts fanfic

Mmm. I keep getting distracted from writing the Gil bday fic even though I have it pretty much planned out. I love writing these little flashbacks though. Crybaby Gil is such a cutie and Oz is so adorabley bad a$$ XD Finally! A meeting of the two…but I have to get to bed ASAP so I'll see how much I can pull off…I work Sun-Tues and every other Wed from 6:30am to 6:58pm, and Thurs-Sat from 7am to 3 or 4pm. So two days off a month. XD And I should be starting college soon…luck be willing-but I'd like to be staying active here now. It's the only chance to write I seem to be getting _ XD P.S. I apologize in advance for this chappie, I wanted their big reunion all in one, but I passed out and am trying to finish this in like fifteen minutes before I go to work XD, so that shall be tlater, after work. This is just me getting there that much quicker. XD ONTO THE STORY!~

Blood trickled down Oz's left leg as he clutched it with gritted teeth. The wound was fairly deep, and the sharp pain had startled him. Of all of the things he had expected in the forest, a renegade Chain was not one of them. Where had it even come from?

Rows of gnashing fangs, beady black eyes, and spindly skin formed the monstrous Chain, and it had been responsible for the minor stab in his leg.

Oz was trying to summon the scythe, to call on B-Rabbit's power, but he hadn't been met with any success. So what triggered it then, if not his being in danger or his desire? The Chain lunged for him and he barely managed to dodge, rolling aside as it immediately charged again. "Ali-" he choked as he was forced to dodge again, but this time he found himself side-wiped and sent slamming into a nearby tree. The boy crumpled to the ground a moment, a thin trail of blood down the side of his forehead from a small cut there. This wasn't looking good. Why couldn't he summon the scythe? Jack….Jack? he tried to call out to the other in his mind, but there was no answer. It figured. Oz lifted his gaze, eyes widening as he saw the Chain mere inches away with claws ready-

A large black mass came between Oz and the Chain, grabbing a spindle of the Chain and slamming the latter down with a barehand. The Chain snarled and lunged, one of it's spindles plunging deep into the flesh between the shoulder and the arm. The black mass let out a strangled sound of pain before yanking back, surging forward again. A black substance erupted from the being's arm, and the next thing Oz saw of the Chain as well as the last was it seeming to choke before it pulled apart, as if exploded from the inside.

Oz watched the scene in confusion and horror, and then realized fully just how his situation had become. This thing had saved him from the Chain, but that didn't mean that it was an ally…and if it came after Oz now…

The boy stumbled to his feet as he turned and started to run. It wasn't like him, but he didn't dare do anything else. Friend or foe, Oz was in no position to be taking chances.

Proof? The fact that he hadn't taken more than a few steps when the sharp pain in his leg forcibly reminded Oz that it was there and sent him sprawling face-first in the mud. He sat up, spluttering as he wiped it off on his at least partially clean sleeve before he stilled at what he heard.

"Oz!" The voice was hoarse and rough, not at all pleasant. But the worried tone, the exclamation, it was familiar. Oz turned in disbelief to regard the only other present, the creature he'd assumed was a Chain.

"…Gil?"

Gilbert could feel a sensation of pain in his leg, a sudden sharp pain that had no origin as far as he knew, not to himself. But somehow he knew that it was Oz who had been hurt, it was Oz's pain he felt and it drew him to the other. There he'd found a bleeding Oz and a Chain which he'd quickly dispatched of. In fact…his own viciousness surprised him. When he'd seen Oz bleeding, something had blossomed in his chest. Something between rage and possessiveness, and something primal. Were these effects of Raven's power bleeding through him, were these his own feelings magnified? And then he'd turned to find Oz running away. Oz was afraid of him, didn't recognize him, thought he was-the boy tripped and he'd shouted the other's name instinctively. Now he'd gone and done it. As the boy lifted those familiar, beautiful emerald orbs his way he'd frozen and simply stared at his young master in horror, uncertain of what to do. He'd been caught but he was loathe to admit it, to admit that it was him in this form…he couldn't. And so he turned to leave, to run like the coward he was when he heard the sound of Oz hitting the ground again, clearly having tried to move after him.

Oz had been waiting for an answer when the other suddenly turned to run. Definitely Gil… he let the stray thought pass as he rose again to follow the other. It had to be Gilbert, didn't it? But the pain in his leg had not subsided and he found himself falling again, clenching his fists in the mud as he gritted his teeth against the pain. To his surprise though, the being-Gil-had stopped and was now staring at him. Oz focused on the other this time, meeting those golden eyes and then he knew beyond all doubt. How many times had he seen those eyes? Gilbert's eyes soft, full of concerned, full of tears, fearful, hurt, adoring, angry, protective. Gilbert was expressive in every way that Oz was not and he'd always found that endearing in his servant. Gilbert didn't hide things from Oz, there was no guile between them…not from Gilbert's half anyway, but Oz had always worn masks… However, where Gilbert was concerned, at least, he wanted to protect the other from himself, from Gilbert seeing just how deeply the darkness in his heart ran.

"It is you, isn't it, Gil?" Oz asked softly, it wasn't so much a question as a sad acknowledgment. All of these things that happened to Gilbert were because he kept trying to protect Oz, because he'd become Oz's servant…if not for that, Gilbert might never have needed to become Raven at all, to be in danger all the time…just because of Oz.

Gilbert, if indeed it was Gilbert, stiffened but said nothing as he slowly stepped closer to Oz. When he finally reached the other, all that he did was to continue standing, staring down at the ground silently.

Oz pulled himself up to a sitting position as he looked up at the other before reaching out a hand to curl a fist around the other's pant leg, he still had those, at least. "Gilbert.." his soft tone suddenly became a barked command. "Stop standing around and help your master!" As expected, Gilbert jumped and immediately crouched beside Oz, hands braced towards his master before they fell again.

Gilbert had been thinking, staring down at Oz, trying to find an alternative. But he couldn't leave Oz alone and injured in the middle of the forest. As for the other's sudden command, he'd been startled and obeyed on instinct. But he hadn't been willing to touch the other. There really wasn't a choice though…

Black arms slid underneath Oz suddenly as Gilbert hefted his young master up bridal style, carefully cradling him close. Oz made a surprised sort of yelp, wincing as it jarred his leg before he settled against Gilbert and looked up at him with a furrowed brow. Gilbert still looked like himself, now that he knew to look, but different too…what was going on? "Hey, Gil…what happened?"

Gilbert's grip on Oz tightened slightly before it relaxed and Gilbert said nothing, keeping his eyes focused ahead and above Oz.

Oz frowned. "Hey, Gilbert. I asked you something."

"…"

"Are you ignoring me?"

"…"

"Are you alright?"

"…"

"Are you mad at me?"

"…"

"…Gilbert…you…idiot!" Oz's hand connected with Gilbert's head as he smacked it.

Gilbert's eyes widened in surprise as his gaze finally flicked to Oz, narrowing slightly before they widened again and he stopped walking as Oz's hands found either side of Gilbert's face and held it, forcing Gilbert to look at Oz.

Oz glared a moment before he sighed, looking skyward a moment before he looked back at Gilbert. "Gil…thanks for finding me." he said softly as he released the other's face.

Gilbert stared at Oz a moment, mouth open slightly in surprise. Oz remembered too then, eh? "I'll always find you." he whispered, without really even meaning to. But he'd done so nonetheless, and he watched as Oz's expression shared a similar surprise before blossoming into a smile. There was a peal of thunder and the droplets of a fresh start of drizzle. Gilbert started walking again, trying to give in to the fact that he wanted to keep his master close, that he wanted to hold onto him and just let Oz comfort him like he used to…but he wasn't little Gil anymore, he couldn't hide behind Oz anymore.

"So will you tell me now? How this happened?"

A flashback of Raven flickered into his mind and he was silent a long moment. But as Oz opened his mouth, probably to prod again, he said quietly. "I..don't know..he said it was to keep me alive..when I woke up…I was like…this.." Gilbert's speech had several pauses in it, each word seemed forced past his throat. Oz realized that it was probably hard, possibly even painful, for the other to speak.

"Raven did this?" Oz considered that information a moment before he poked Gilbert's cheek. "Gil is always so troublesome," he said with a dramatic sigh, "And grumpy." he added. But there wasn't a flicker of annoyance or pout, no humoring smiles, Gilbert just stared straight ahead with a blank expression and an air to him that suggested that having Oz in his arms was making him distinctly uncomfortable. And Oz could guess why, a reason he intended to correct in just a moment as they'd reached the cave-which he deduced was their stop.

Sure enough, Gilbert stepped inside with Oz in his arms and set the other down gently. "Don't move…from here." he muttered, knowing how antsy Oz could be as he rose and seemed about to head back out.

"You're leaving me here?" Oz's brow furrowed in confusion.

Gilbert paused, glancing at his master from the corner of his eyes. "I need…to get some things…to treat your…wounds.."

"Oh, so Gil isn't just running away from me again?" Oz queried cheerfully, intentionally so.

Gilbert's body tensed and he frowned-as best one could without lips, before he looked away and started to step out.

"Gilbert. Come here." The command was quiet, but stern as Oz gazed at Gilbert with all traces of humor gone.

Gilbert hesitated, certain that his master had something planned and not certain that he wanted to let it pass. "Gilbert. That was an order." Oz said coolly.

Gilbert blinked, and then with his head lowered so that his hair covered his face, he stepped up beside his master and said nothing.

Oz frowned up at the other a moment before he pushed himself up into a standing position, bracing himself against the wall and ignoring the pain in his leg.

"Oz-" it sounded almost like a growl as Gilbert's eyes narrowed on his master, but he didn't offer a hand. He didn't want to touch the other like this.

"Get on your knees, Gil~" Oz commanded with a sudden, serene smile.

Gilbert wasn't sure he liked where this was going.

"So defiant today. Get on your knees, 'kay?" Gilbert still hesitated and Oz's smile became a frown as he reached up and grabbed a handful of Gilbert's hair, jerking the other down.

Gilbert made a choked noise of surprise, his hand reaching up to close around Oz's as he slid his hair from the other's grasp, frowning at the other before quickly releasing Oz's hand. "What are…you-"

"Still too tall. Gil is so annoying for growing up." Oz muttered as he put his hands on Gilbert's shoulder and pushed him down so that he was sitting on folded legs. "That's better." Gilbert's brow furrowed in confusion before he stilled, eyes going wide as Oz slid small arms around Gilbert, a hand on Gilbert's head as he pulled it against his chest, and his left arm around Gilbert's shoulder and back. Oz held Gilbert's head against his chest, holding him close.

Gilbert was momentarily too stunned to move, eyes sliding up towards Oz without moving his head. "..Oz..?"

Oz stared back down at his servant before speaking softly. "I know why Gil is being so weird. It's because Gil thinks I'll leave him, right? If he looks like this…" Gilbert stiffened in Oz's grasp. "Or that I'll be afraid…which is really dumb, because how lame would I be if I got scared of a crybaby like you?"

Gilbert frowned and started to move away, but Oz held onto him more tightly and Gilbert stopped. "It's okay, Gil…to lean on me still…you grew up without me…but…Oz is still Oz…and Gil is still Gil, right? So…even if you're bigger..even if you have things like this happen to you..of course I won't leave…and it's okay, if Gil is scared, or worried…cause I'll always be with you…as long as you still want me..I won't force you to stay if you don't want to…but our absolute..it's not just you, it's me too..I'll be an 'always' for you too, Gil…" Oz finished softly, biting his tongue as he stared down at Gilbert.

Gilbert stared up at his young master in astonishment. Oz and he had shared all sorts of moments before, and Oz had said…other endearing things. But this was…Oz wasn't the type to get sentimental. He expected the people he loved to just understand how he was. He never let them see him worry, or cry, or be afraid, he made himself be so strong. And he didn't believe in people, really. But for Gilbert…

"I'll be an 'always' for you too, Gil"

Those words…those words broke through Raven to reach Gilbert. Even now, even in this monstrous form-Oz was by his side. Even though Gilbert was troublesome, and foolish, and a 'crybaby', Oz wouldn't abandon him. Oz was with him.

Oz was startled by a sudden pouring of inky liquid from Gilbert's face, but he quickly understood. Tears. Gilbert was crying, and it was the first time that he'd seen him do so since before the Abyss. (Excluding when Gilbert had gotten drunk-that didn't count)

Gilbert's arms slid up and around Oz's small body, pulling him close, burying his face in Oz's chest as he cried as he hadn't in years. Everything pent up inside of him seemed to pour out at once as he cried against his young master's chest, as he held the other close as if afraid to let go. Oz, meanwhile, simply smiled as he held the other back and stroked his hair lightly, Gilbert had always liked that gesture of affection-which was probably why he did it so often to Oz.

"It's alright, Gil…it's alright.." Oz said softly, leaning his head down to rest it atop Gilbert's. "We found each other again…" he murmured.

(SO! I revamped it after all. I quite like this result better. And it's finally a decent sized chappie. XD Okay, so it's a little sentimental. And I feel like I abuse getting all psychological on their charries but I can't help it. It annoys me when there is a lack of depth in an emotional scene. Or something. XD Also, I abuse commas. Not because I flout the rules of writing, but because I developed the habit of inserting commas where I hear a pause in my mind for some reason, (as well as where they are appropriate) maybe from too much poetry writing. Not that it's correct there either. XD Ah well. I kept the original version for dork-ness sake. As seen below. But the following chapters will be following the top most version, yes indeed. XD (I debated so much on what to do at work…I was gonna do something with Gil's gun but I shall save that now XD) 3 )

Blood trickled down Oz's left legas he clutched it with gritted teeth. The re was a fairly deep wound, and the sharp pain had startled him. Of all of the things he had expected in the forest, a renegade Chain was not one of them. Where had it even come from?

Rows of gnashing fangs, beady black eyes, and spindly skin formed the monstrous Chain, and it had been responsible for the minor stab in his leg.

The creature turned it's head and Oz tensed, ready to try to defend himself. But all thoughts of defense faded as his eyes locked onto the eyes of the being before him. Golden eyes, not just any, but the same golden eyes of Gilbert.

"Gil..?" Oz whispered, eyes wide.

The being winced and lowered it's gaze, and Oz knew then that it had to be. Ragged hair, black wings, strange black skin…but Gilbert's familiar golden eyes…

"It's Gil, right…? But…what happened?" Oz rose a bit shakily to his feet, taking a step towards the other. The moment he'd moved, Gilbert's eyes flicked towards him-widening slightly before he turned and started to run.

Definitely Gilbert. The stray thought found it's way into Oz's mind as he took off after the other. Didn't his servant ever tire of running? Oh well. They would always find each other-

"Ughn." Oz winced in pain as he went slamming into the ground. The wound in his leg wasn't fatal or anything, but that didn't mean that he could do much by way of running on it. "Gil…Gilbert!" he shouted after the other, but as he looked up he found that the other had already seen what happened. Several feet off, golden eyes gazed at Oz and then at his leg with what seemed to be a pained expression.

What could he do? Gilbert couldn't just leave Oz lying there…but…if he went to the other, if he had to face his master this way…but Oz was hurt, what if he couldn't even walk? There was no way that he could leave them…maybe if he pretended that he wasn't Gilbert…or said nothing at all…

He didn't really believe it would work, but admitting that he was Gilbert…would not be easy.

"Gil!"

No. His master knew it was him, somehow he'd known. And now he had no choice but to face him.

Gilbert turned fully and headed slowly towards his master, standing before him and staring down at him as he reached him. Emerald eyes, the eyes of the master he so adored, stared up wide at Gilbert. Was Oz afraid? Disgusted? Was he-

A hand gripped the edge of Gilbert's pants, he'd not lost those at least. "Gil…don't just stand around, help me." he said commandingly, relieved when Gilbert jumped and then lowered. But he still said nothing, and wouldn't meet Oz's gaze now. Oz was in something like a state of shock but he knew how Gilbert was, this form, however he'd gotten it, was something that he would hide behind. Run away from, at least, as far as Oz was concerned. "I don't know what's going on, Gil. Or how you got like this. But I know you're Gil, and because of that…I'm not afraid…" Oz offered his servant a little smile, but then winced as he moved his leg.

Gilbert started, looking concerned. It was hard to see differences in his expression as he was, but Oz was used to it. Still, Gilbert said nothing although Oz's words…they filled him with relief. His master wasn't going to reject him…or was he? If he'd seen Gilbert earlier…

Black arms slid around the smaller body as he lifted Oz up into his arms, holding him bridal style. Oz blinked in surprise as the other held him and began walking. "Gil…can't you talk?"

Gilbert said nothing and didn't look at his master as he walked off, towards a little cave where he'd earlier taken shelter. His master was here, in his arms, and unafraid…but Gilbert was afraid, very much afraid…if Oz learned to see the monster in Gilbert that others did, if that ever happened…then he would truly lose everything.

(Ughhh! I so didn't want the chappie to go this way but I'ma be late for work sooooo. _ Hope it's alright, dearies. I might edit it. I really wanted a more dramatic meeting _ or something. Ehh, I don't know. Opinions, anyway? Annnd, more to come tonight! 3)